Adrienne Batra quit her job as press secretary to Mayor Rob Ford Monday, to take a new job at the Toronto Sun.

Ms. Batra, who hails from Saskatchewan, first rose to prominence handling press for Mr. Ford during the election campaign, and quickly became known for her caustic wit and her fierce, relentless protectiveness towards Mr. Ford. Her no-nonsense western populist bluntness blew like an icy fresh wind into the mayor’s office, after the somewhat cozy champagne-socialist warmth of her predecessor.

Ms. Batra had previously worked for the Canadian Taxpayers’ Federation in Winnipeg. She was a reservist in the Canadian Forces.

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“Adrienne has been a vital part of our Administration and I want to thank her for her dedication,” said Mayor Rob Ford in a news release. “We wish her all the best and success in her new endeavours.”

Ms. Batra moves to her new job on Friday.

“It’s an opportunity that presented itself and I am very much looking forward to the new challenge,” said Ms. Batra, who previously wrote a weekly column in the Winnipeg Sun.

As for her time in the mayor’s office, she said, “It was not without its challenges but we’ve had a great deal of success and I am very proud to be a part of that.” She said she learned toughness from her mom.

Asked about the timing of her departure — the one-year anniversary of Mr. Ford taking office — Ms. Batra said, “Unfortunately that’s the reality of politics. There is never a good time.”

Ms. Batra has been appointed Comment Editor of the Toronto Sun and will be a frequent contributor on Newstalk1010 as the Municipal Affairs Correspondent.

Ms. Batra’s departure leaves Sunny Petrujkic, the number two person in the mayor’s press office, to answer reporters’ questions.